Eight teams unbeaten at xbowling ITC

LINCOLN, Neb. - Four men's teams and four women's teams escaped the first two rounds of match play in the double-elimination bracket undefeated Thursday night at the 2013 xbowling Intercollegiate Team Championships.

In the men's division, McKendree, Fresno State, William Penn and Robert Morris-Illinois made it through their opening matches with an unblemished record. On the women's side, Maryland Eastern Shore, Wichita State, Wright State and Pikeville stayed unbeaten.

A total of 32 teams began the quest for collegiate national titles Thursday, and four men's teams and four women's teams exited the event after the opening day.

The remaining teams will compete Friday until there are two men's and two women's teams left for the nationally televised finals. The championship match for the men and women will be taped Saturday and will air on CBS Sports Network in May.

All 32 teams took part in 24 games of Baker qualifying Thursday morning to determine seeding for the best-of-seven bracket play.

Maryland Eastern Shore led the women's qualifying and continued that momentum into match play by defeating Newman, 4-2, in the first round and then taking down Wisconsin-Whitewater, 4-2, in the second round.

In the men's bracket, Robert Morris-Illinois qualified second and defeated Marian, 4-1, and Webber International, 4-1, in its opening two matches. Top seed Lindenwood won its first match, 4-0, over Mount Mercy but lost to McKendree, 4-2, in the second round.

Defending women's champion Webber International was knocked out of the tournament Thursday night with consecutive losses to Kutztown (4-0) and Norfolk State (4-2). The reigning men's champion, which is also Webber International, still remains alive with one loss.

Competition resumes at 8 a.m. Central on Friday with live coverage on BOWL.com's BowlTV. For more information on the Intercollegiate Team Championships, visit BOWL.com/ITC.

xbowling is the title sponsor of the collegiate national championships. xbowling is a first-of-its-kind bowling app that empowers bowlers to connect and compete using their smart phone or tablet devices while bowling within xbowling enabled centers locally, across the country and around the world. The xbowling platform allows bowlers to enter challenges, view live scoring, and compete remotely while bowling.